Actor Bee Vang of “Gran Torino” to discuss Asian gang violence

One of the central actors in Clint Eastwood´s film "Gran Torino" will highlight a free public forum on gang violence within the Southeast Asian American community to be held today, Saturday, at the University of the Pacific.

Actor Bee Vang will give the keynote address for a panel discussion titled, "The Real Gran Torino Story: Stockton´s Secret War on the Streets," on October 24, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, in the DeRosa University Center´s Grand Ballroom, Stockton, California. After the discussion, internationally-known Khmer-American hip-hop artist PraChy Ly will perform. Ly often addresses gang violence in his music.

Organized by University of the Pacific students, the panel will include State Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), chair of the California Senate Select Committee on Asian Pacific Islander Affairs, as well as a number of other local and state government and law enforcement officials.

"It is imperative that we discuss issues surrounding gang violence and together find ways to prevent it," said Yee. "Clint Eastwood has helped raise significant awareness about this issue; it is now our responsibility to find solutions to this community problem."